Menorah with candles that burn different colored flames

ABSTRACT

A device includes a Menorah and a plurality of candles. Each candle is configured to sustain a flame for at least 30 minutes and each candle includes exactly one wick. The plurality of candles is placed in the Menorah. A first set of the plurality of candles is configured to burn with a flame of a first color and a second set of the plurality of candles is configured to burn with a flame of a second color that is different from the first color.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/168,817, filed Apr. 13, 2009, the entirety ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to candle systems and, more specifically,to a Menorah that burns candles with different colored flames.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewishholiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalemat the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah isobserved for eight nights, starting on the 25th day of Kislev accordingto the Hebrew calendar, and may occur from late November to lateDecember on the Gregorian calendar.

The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a specialcandelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah (which may also be referred to asHanukiah or Hanukkah candelabra), one light on each night of theholiday, progressing to eight on the final night. An extra light calleda Shamash is also lit each night for the purpose of lighting the others,and is given a distinct location, usually above or below the rest.

Additionally, it is a rabbinical commandment to burn these lights atspecific times of the evening when there are assumed to be people in thestreet to observe them. One may light with almost any combustiblesubstance though most use either oil (usually olive which is consideredthe best way to do it) or candles made from any material (most commonlyparaffin or beeswax). The burning should last at least for 30 minutesafter dark

On the evening of the holiday that falls on a Friday night, one mustlight the candle early to avoid lighting candles on the Sabbath whichstarts at sundown. Therefore the candle must last the mandatory 30minutes plus any additional time needed to light before the Sabbath.Whether using a candle or oil only 1 wick must be burned per candle oroil receptacle. In this instance it means the candles must have only onewick.

There are some blessings that are said at the time of lighting and it istraditional to sing two songs immediately afterwards.

As for the Menorah, it can come in many shapes and sizes, however itmust meet the following three requirements: (1) it must have 8 holdersfor candles or oil; (2) all 8 holders must be at the same height,straight and level and, if there is a ninth holder for the Shamashcandle (most have this), then it must be on a different level than allthe other holders—either higher or lower.

Over the whole holiday a person will typically use 44 candles: two onthe first night (the Shamash plus the candle representing the firstnight), three on the second night (the Shamash plus the two candlesrepresenting the first night and the second night), four on the thirdnight, and one additional candle on each night until nine are used onthe eighth night. However, many packages supply 45 candles with theextra candle just in case there is a problem with one of the candles.

One purpose of Hanukkah is to remind people of the miracle upon whichHanukkah is based. Thus, enhancing the perception of the miracleassociated with lighting of the candles would help to enhance theexperience of Hanukkah.

Therefore, there is a need for a system that enhances the perception ofthe miracle associated with Hanukkah.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present inventionwhich, in one aspect, is a device for celebrating a holiday thatincludes a candelabra and a plurality of flame units. Each of theplurality of flame units is disposed in the candelabra. A first set ofthe plurality of flame units is configured to burn with a flame of afirst color and at least a second set of the plurality of flame units isconfigured to burn with a flame of a second color different from thefirst color.

In another aspect, the invention is a kit for celebrating Hanukkah thatincludes eight subsets of candles. Each of the candles is configured tosustain a flame for at least 30 minutes and includes exactly a singlewick. Each subset of candles includes at least a correct number ofcandles to be burned on a corresponding day of Hanukkah. Seven of thesubsets of candles each includes at least one first candle that burnswith a flame of a first color and at least one second candle that burnswith a flame of a second color that is different from the first color.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a method of celebrating Hanukkahin which a first flame unit is lit on the first day of Hanukkah. Theflame unit includes a fuel in an amount that would sustain a flame forat least 30 minutes and exactly a single wick. The first flame unitgenerates a flame of a first color. An additional flame unit of aplurality of different flame units is lit on each successive day ofHanukkah is lit for at least 30 minutes. Each additional flame unit isconfigured to generate a flame of at least one color different from thefirst color. Each additional flame unit includes a fuel in an amountthat would sustain a flame for at least 30 minutes and exactly a singlewick.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in theart, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a Menorah in which each candle is lit.

FIG. 2 show the ends of one possible arrangement of candles assembled ina kit, such as would be found in a pre-assembled package that suppliescandles for an entire Hanukkah season.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a Menorah in which each candle is lit.

FIGS. 4A-4C are detailed photographs of several flames shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail.Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughoutthe views. Unless otherwise specifically indicated in the disclosurethat follows, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. As usedin the description herein and throughout the claims, the following termstake the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includesplural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” As usedherein, “flame unit” includes any burnable object that fulfills therequirements for the lighting of a Menorah at Hanukkah. Also, as usedherein, “candelabra” includes devices for holding candles and assembliesof oil burning lamps.

As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the invention 100 includes aMenorah 110 (it is understood that the Menorah shown is only one of manyconfigurations of Menorahs that can be employed in the invention) inwhich are placed eight candles 122, wherein each candle corresponds to adifferent day of the eight days of Hanukkah. A ninth candle 124 may alsobe included, but is not required. The eight candles 122 are composed ofa material such that at least two of the eight candles 122 burn flamesof a different color. In the example shown, the left-most candle mightburn with a green flame 132, the candle next to it might burn with ablue flame 134, the candle next to it might burn with a yellow flame136, and the candle next to it might burn with a purple flame 138. Inthis example, the right-most candle might burn with a green flame 146,the candle next to it might burn with a red flame 144, the candle nextto it might burn with a blue flame 142, and the candle next to it mightburn with a yellow flame 140. The Shamash candle 124, which in thisexample is the center candle (but could be located in a differentposition, so long as it is at a different level than the other eightcandles, or could simply not be included on the Menorah), might burnwith a typical white flame 150. It should be understood that this isonly a single example of a Menorah with candles that burn flames ofdifferent colors and that many other orderings of candles and colorsused are well within the scope of the invention.

In one embodiment, the candles themselves could be of different colors.In another embodiment candles may be of a first color and burn a flameof a different color. U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,865, issued to Lu disclosesmethods of making candles that burn with colored flames and is,therefore, hereby incorporated by reference. The candles include a fuelportion, such as paraffin and a color-forming agent. Examples ofcolor-forming agents that will result in flames of different colorsinclude organic salts or inorganic salts of lithium (Li), sodium (Na),potassium (K), boron (B), barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), cesium (Cs), copper(Cu), magnesium (Mg) or antimony (Sb), complexes of the above-mentionedmetals, or mixtures thereof. Typically, such salts are used in an amountof 1.5 to 8% by weight, based on the total weight of the candle body.

Each of the candles 122 includes exactly one wick 126 and must be longenough to burn for at least 30 minutes. (While Jewish law is generallyinterpreted to require exactly one wick per candle, some interpretationsof the law might allow for more than one wick per candle. Therefore,certain embodiments falling within the scope of the invention couldinclude more than one wick per candle.) In one example, the candles are12 cm tall and 0.8 cm in diameter. However, it will be understood thatmany other dimensions of candles are well within the scope of theinvention.

While the example shown in FIG. 1 includes a Menorah that burns candles,other configurations are possible. For example, the Menorah could beconfigured to burn oil. U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,622, issued to Lesesne,shows methods of making an oil lamp with a colored flame and isincorporated herein by reference. In such a configuration, oils thatburn with flames of at least two different colors will be employed inthe Menorah.

One example of a kit 200 of candles that may be used with a Menorah isdisclosed in FIG. 2. In this example, each column of candles includesthe candles required for a different day of Hanukkah. Also, in thisexample each column has the candles arranged so that the relativearrangements of the colored flames produced by the candles remain thesame for each successive day. Other arrangements of candles are withinthe scope of the invention. For example, the kit could include candlesthat burn flames of colors that are arbitrarily arranged so that eachday a different color combination could be used. It should be noted thatFIG. 2 shows only one arrangement, and that the shape of the kit couldbe, for example, rectangular or one of many other shapes.

An example of a photograph 300 of a Menorah burning candles with flamesof several different colors is shown in FIG. 3. An example of aphotograph 410 of a candle that is burning a blue flame is shown in FIG.4A; an example of a photograph 412 of a candle that is burning a redflame is shown in FIG. 4B; and an example of a photograph 414 of acandle that is burning a green flame is shown in FIG. 4

The present invention may also be employed in the celebration ofholidays other than Hanukkah that employ the burning of several candles.The use of candles burning flames of different colors could enhance theexperience associated with such holidays.

The above described embodiments, while including the preferredembodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor atthe time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will bereadily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specificembodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of theinvention is to be determined by the claims below rather than beinglimited to the specifically described embodiments above.

1. A device for celebrating a holiday, comprising: a. a candelabra; andb. a plurality of flame units disposed in the candelabra, in which afirst set of the plurality of flame units is configured to burn with aflame of a first color and at least a second set of the plurality offlame units is configured to burn with a flame of a second colordifferent from the first color.
 2. The device of claim 1, configured forcelebrating Hanukkah wherein the candelabra comprises a Menorah.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1, configured for celebrating Hanukkah wherein each ofthe plurality of flame units includes a fuel in an amount that wouldsustain a flame for at least 30 minutes.
 4. The device of claim 1,configured for celebrating Hanukkah wherein each of the plurality offlame units includes exactly a single wick
 5. The device of claim 1,wherein each of the plurality of flame units comprises a candle.
 6. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the candelabra comprises a series of at leasteight oil lamps and wherein each of the plurality of flame unitscomprises a predetermined quantity of a burnable oil.
 7. The device ofclaim 1, wherein each of the plurality of flame units comprises acolor-forming agent, wherein the color-forming agent is a salt selectedfrom a group consisting of: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K),boron (B), barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu),magnesium (Mg) or antimony (Sb), and combinations thereof.
 8. A kit forcelebrating Hanukkah, comprising eight subsets of candles, wherein eachof the candles is configured to sustain a flame for at least 30 minutesand includes exactly a single wick, wherein each subset of candlesincludes at least a correct number of candles to be burned on acorresponding day of Hanukkah and wherein seven of the subsets ofcandles each includes at least one first candle that burns with a flameof a first color and at least one second candle that burns with a flameof a second color that is different from the first color.
 9. The kit ofclaim 8, wherein each of the candles comprises a color-forming agent,wherein the color-forming agent is a salt selected from a groupconsisting of: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), boron (B),barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg) orantimony (Sb), and combinations thereof.
 10. The kit of claim 8, whereineach candle in each of the eight subsets is disposed in a predefinedordered sequence corresponding to a colored of flame associated with thecandle, thereby facilitating a similar ordering of flame colors duringeach successive night of Hanukkah.
 11. The kit of claim 8, wherein eachcandle in each of the eight subsets is disposed in a predefined orderedsequence corresponding to a colored of flame associated with the candle,thereby facilitating a different ordering of flame colors during eachsuccessive night of Hanukkah.
 12. A method of celebrating Hanukkah,comprising the actions of: a. lighting a first flame unit, the flameunit including a fuel in an amount that would sustain a flame for atleast 30 minutes and exactly a single wick, on the first day of Hanukkahand burning the flame unit for a predetermined amount of time, in whichthe first flame unit generates a flame of a first color; and b. lightingan additional flame unit of a plurality of different flame units on eachsuccessive day of Hanukkah for at least 30 minutes, each additionalflame unit configured to generate a flame of at least one colordifferent from the first color and additional flame unit including afuel in an amount that would sustain a flame for at least 30 minutes andexactly a single wick.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of theplurality of flame units comprises a candle.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein each of the plurality of flame units comprises a predeterminedquantity of a burnable oil.
 15. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising the action of pouring the burnable oil into an oil burninglamp prior to the lighting action.
 16. The method of claim 12, whereineach of the plurality of flame units comprises a color-forming agent,wherein the color-forming agent is a salt selected from a groupconsisting of: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), boron (B),barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg) orantimony (Sb), and combinations thereof.